Holder for trial-lens sets.



UNITEDr STATES PATENT FFICE.

GUBTAV A. H. KELLNEB, 0I' .BOGHESTEZm NEW-YOBK,' 'ASSIGNOB T0 BAUSGH11013 OPTICAL COIPLNY, 0l' ROGHESTEB, NEW YORK, A QOBPQBATIGN 0F 'NEWYORK.

.HOLDER FOB TRIAL-Lm SETS.

B/peoitlon of Lettori Intent.

Patented Mal'. 5, 1918.

To all whom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, Gus'rav A. H. KELL- Nnn, of Rochester, in the countyof Monroe and State of New York, rhave invented cer tain new and usefulImprovements in Holders for Trial-Lens Sets; and `I hereby deV claro thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same,reference be ing had to the accompanyingl drawings, forming a part ofthis specification, and to the reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to provide a lens holder adaptedpart1cula-rly for use in conjunctionwith klens testing, or lensmeasuring instruments whereby the focalizing power of the test lensesused by opticiens in correcting errors in vision, when removed from theholder worn by a patient, may be accurately determined, espe cially whentwo or more yof such lenses are used in combination, in order that thetrue value of the single lens to be given the patient may equal thatproduced by the combination of test lenses. To these and other ends theinvention consists in certain improvements and combinations of arts allas will be hereinafter more fully escribed, the novel features beingpointed out in. the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of a holder showing one embodiment ofmy present invention; Y

Fig.l 2 is a side elevation thereof partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the lens olding arms, and

Fig. 4 is atop plan view thereof.

Similar reference numerals throughout` the figures indicate similarparte In fitting ersons to spectacl or eye glasses, in or er to correcterrors 1n vision the opticien, or o .tometrist, em loys what is known asa tria frame which is provided with various adjustments, the essentialfeatures to which I wish to refer being the means employed for removablysupporting the test lenses. This part ofthe apparatus comprises a ringhaving at its forward and rear sides pockets, or spring clips, in whichone, two, or poibly, three di'erent trial lenses may be inserted. Theselenses are interchangeable and revolubly adjustable so l that manydiierent combinations may made until the proper combination 1s accurately Adeterniiizied to supply the deficiency in the si ht of aparticular eye. From the combin values of these test lenses theoptometrist may compute the true value of the sin le lens which is to bemounted in the s tac es, or eye glasses, to be delivered to t e patientand have such lens ground to produce the necessary curves, or surfaces,

Vaccording to such computations.

It is possible by the use of special optical instruments designed forthe purpose to reproduce conditions of refraction in a lens similar tothose obtained in conjunction with the human eye and thus determineabsolutely the focalizing Y power of the test lenses inthc positionwhich they occupy in front of the wearers eye, but in such instru mentsit is quite essential that the lens, or combinationof lenses which areto be meas ured shall be held perfectly rigid and also occupy the sameposition, that is be separated the same distance as inthe trial framewhen the test was made. It is impracticable to attempt to obtain anaccurate measure-- ment by the use of such an instrument while the testlenses are in the trial frame, both because of the clumsiness of thelatter contrlbuting to the diiliculty with which the operator can handleit, and to the fact that t e lenses therein are not secured withsuicient rigidity, either against lateral displacement or movementaxially relatively to each other to permit their being handled.- I haveobviated these diiculties by Vproviding 'the separate holding instrumentcomprising generally a plurality of lens holders which are supported forrelative adjustment.

In illustrating my invention I have shown an instrument comprising threelens holders indicated by 1, 2 and 3, each comprising a semi-eircularcurved arm having a channel,

`or recess upon its inner periphery provided at its extremities withspring clips 4 and 5. The curved arms are preferably semi-circular to`embrace the lower half of the pe-V 100 above its horizontal diameter..Each of the 195 springs is also provided with a pair of infwardlyextending lugs 8, which are s aeed apart sufficiently' to allow them todimly grip opposite sides of a lens. Also locatedv at'the bottom pointof the arms and in the 110 perform the same function attributed to the f.ears

recess therein, are opposing lugs 9--9 which 8 so that the trial lens isheld vertically ement with fingers bearing at a points located about itspe- 1t is held in engagement with the ends 7 of the by weas plurality ofriphery while holding means by Springs- The lens holders are mountedupon a suitable support, or base, 10, provi ed on its upper surface witha longitudinally extending dove'tail curve 11, which receives thecorrespondingly shaped lugs 1", 2 yand 3'* on the lower side of each oft e curved arms 1, 2 and 3. Oneof the latter, preferabl the intermediateholder 2, i's secured rigi to the base by a set screw 12 while the oters are capable of being moved relatively thereto, this adjustment beingpermitted by prorridi the base with longitudinally extending Idil ts 13and 14 through which the attaching screws 15 and 16 are passed. Theaccurate adjustment of the lens holders 1 and 3 with reference to eachother and to the intermediate lens holder 2 is accomplished bv setscrews 17 and 18, whichipass through the lugs 1 and 3? and bear againstthe roximate faces of the lug 2*.

e arrangement of the arts described permits the adjustment of t e lensholders relatively to each other, in the direction of the axis of thelenses sup orted thereon, which nuits the optometrlst to bring the lenshold y positions occupied by thetest lenses `when ap lied to the trialyframe which he is in the ha it of using.

' An instrument embodying-,my present-invention is especially adaptedfor yuse with opthalmic lenses and when the holders arek 1y adjusted. tocorrespond to aparpro tic ar trial frame, the user thereof knows thatthe lenses are firmly supported and may` roceed with certainty inapplying them to his measuring instrument, even if the latter comprisesan element, or member, which is to be adjusted into contact with thesurface of one of the lenses which would cause said lens to be displacedout of its true position were it not held rigid.

ers into' exact coincidence with the neuem? I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a base, lens holding frames mounted thereoncomprising curved channel arms for embracingy the periphery of a lensand means for adjusting sald frames on the baseV relatively to eachother andy rigidly locking them in adjusted position. 2. The'combination withabase, lens holding frames mounted thereon Vcomprisingupwardl curved sides provided with alchannel Va apted to support theedges of .trialy lenses, of clips engaging the latter and detachablyholding them seated in the channels, and means for effecting therelative adjustment of the holding frames onthe base.

3. The combination with a base, of three lens holding frames eachadapted to support a trial lens, said frames being disposed to supporttheir respective lenses in axial alinement, the intermediate frame beingfixed to the base and the other two being adjustable thereon.

4. The combination with a base, a plural- 4 ity of trial lens holdersmounted thereon, each comprising 4 vided kwith an interior channel, andcentering lugs aty the bottom of thechannel, of spring clips secured tothe arms having spaced ears projecting into thel ends of the c annelandadapted to embrace thesides of a lens and coperate with said centeringlugs to rigidly support a lens by engagement with the periphery points.

5. Thefcombination with a base having a cove in itsupper edge andprovided with ongitudinal slots in the bottomk of the ove, and a curvedarm adapted to sup'- port a trial lens having a lug on its lower asemi-circular arm pro-k thereof at separated side itting the groove andrigidly secured Y thereon intermediate the slots, of other curved armslocated at each side of the first kmentioned arms also having lugs, setscrews thereto.

GUSTAV A. H. KELLNER.

